The Okulus #1: Aero Manzinilla, the Mentalist Warrior

Mila's pov……

I, Knox Mercer, future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Mila Carter, as my mate.”

I hated parties. There, I said it.

And not just any parties — school parties, the kind where everyone drank too much, and these were people I saw in school everyday, so it was basically just watching them turn into drunk teens, on a school weekend.

Mila! Stop overthinking and come on!” Jenna groaned, tugging me toward the Mercer mansion.

I adjusted the straps of the black dress I’d borrowed from her. It hugged my waist tighter than I liked, but it was the only decent thing I owned.

Unlike most of the girls here, I didn’t have a rich Alpha family backing me.

I straightened my hair twice and applied a red lipstick.

“With all the hot males there, you may even see your mate”

Mate.

My wolf, Rina purred

I couldn't wait to see my mate, I turned Eighteen few months back and have been waiting for the pull of my mate.

Future Alpha Knox Mercer of our crescent moon pack was hosting a party.

Which meant everyone who wanted status was here.

I hated this. I really did.

“Stop sulking and smile,” Jenna said, grabbing my hand and dragging me forward.

The party was already in full swing by the time we arrived. Music thumped through the house,

Teens spilled out of the house into the garden, laughing, dancing, spilling drinks everywhere. The air smelled like perfume, alcohol, and sweat

“Okay, just… keep your head down,” I muttered to myself.

But as soon as I stepped into the main room, I froze.

I looked up and saw him. Knox Mercer.

The future Alpha of our pack. I had seen him around school, of course. Everyone had. He was… impossible to ignore.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and his dark hair was always styled perfectly, he hardly smiled and his green eyes were a piercing shade that seemed to stare straight into your soul.

He was leaning against the wall, holding a glass of a dark drink and talking to his friend.

I was still staring at him when I felt a strange pull at my chest, I gasped and rubbed at my chest, it was violent and it was pulling me straight to him.

“Earth to Mila,” Jenna said suddenly, snapping me back to reality

“You okay?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t. My heart was still racing, what was that pull like a magnetic force to him?

I tried to brush it off. I was just… imagining things, right?

Right?

“Don’t stare like that,” one of my friends whispered, nudging me. “He’ll think you’re crazy.”

I forced myself to nod again, taking a deep breath. But even as I moved forward, trying to act normal, I could feel him. Somewhere across the room, Knox Mercer had some invisible force pulling me to him.

Rina whimpered. Mate.

No.

No.

My stomach dropped, no way.

The future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack could not be mated to me. I was barely tolerated in this pack. My parents were nothing in the pack and I was an omega.

This had to be a mistake.

Knox turned to face me and our eyes locked and it seemed like the world stopped.

His expression changed instantly, I could tell he also felt the pull, I could see shock and recognition on his face.

Rina yipped happily, then his face twisted into something like anger and disappointment.

The music pounded around us, but I couldn’t hear it anymore.

The pull intensified — a burning thread between us.

He felt it too and his jaw tightened, he set his glass down slowly and then—

“Turn it off.”

His voice wasn’t loud but it carried Alpha authority.

The music went off immediately, everyone turned to look at us in confusion.

Knox walked toward me, looking every bit the Alpha that he was.

Everyone started whispering

“Why did he stop the music?” “Who is that girl?” “Isn’t that Mila Carter?, the omega”

I couldn’t breathe, he stopped in front of me and it seemed like his eyes turned pitch black.

“You feel it,” he said quietly.

It wasn’t a question, my throat dried up and I couldn't speak.

“Yes,” I whispered.

Someone gasped and the whispers started again

“Mate” someone said and everywhere went quiet

Knox looked at me like I’d personally offended him, then he laughed, it wasn’t warm, but full of malice.

“You?” he said, looking me up and down slowly. “The Moon Goddess paired me with you?”

The humiliation burned instantly and i felt smaller than I ever had in my life.

Rina growled in pain and Knox turned slightly, addressing the entire room.

“Listen carefully,” he said smoothly. “It appears the Moon Goddess thinks this girl is worthy of being Luna.”

Everyone erupted with laughter, Jenna rushed to my side and tugged my hand. “Let's just leave “ she whispered

Knox stepped closer, close enough that the bond nearly made me sway forward.

“But let’s be clear,” he continued, his voice hardening.

“I am the future Alpha of this pack. I will not be tied to any weakness”

My hands trembled slightly “I didn’t choose this,” I whispered desperately.

His eyes snapped to mine. “Exactly, you didn’t choose it and neither did i”

“I, Knox Mercer, future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Mila Carter, as my mate.”

The words slammed into me like a physical blow, the bond snapped cut, it tore and I screamed in pain.

I couldn’t stop it.

Pain exploded through my chest like my ribs were being split open from the inside. Rina howled in agony, clawing at the broken pieces of what had just been destroyed.

I collapsed to my knees and I could feel Jenna whispering soothing words to me and helping me get up.

The floor felt too far away and the world was spinning around me.

“Pathetic” he whispered

I looked up at him with tears in my eyes

“Accept it” he snapped

“No” I whispered

“Accept it or you'll live in pain forever Mila” jenna begged me

Rina howled in pain as the pain intensified, my wolf was breaking.

If I didn’t accept, it would kill us, tears streamed down my face.

“I…” My voice cracked. “I accept.”

The pain dulled instantly but Rina went silent, she didn’t move or even speak and Knox looked down at me like I was nothing.

“Know your place next time.” Theb he turned back to the party. “Music.”

The party resumed just like that and they continued drinking and dancing like my life hadn’t just shattered on the marble floor.

**